Second World

ʼF*ck!ʼ Jack cursed in his mind. Was this guy able to detect him using another ability to supplement his casting speed?

Janus tapped his fingers on his desk repeatedly, while giving a contemplating expression. He then said, ”well, I never did say you have to cast it normally, so you can say it was my own fault. Okay, Iʼll let it slide this time.”

”You will?”

”Considering we are old acquaintances, just consider it as me doing you a favor.”

ʼOld acquaintance? We just met twice, pal.ʼ Jack uttered in his mind, but he was still grateful by this nativeʼs leniency.

Janus stood up and gestured to him. ”Come,” he said. ”Letʼs process you to join our Order formally.”

Jack followed after him, a rectangular opening suddenly opened up on the wall. Jack could only see the void inside. Janus glanced at him and said, ”donʼt change back into a Warrior when you are inside.”

His figure then stepped and disappeared into the void.

”Mystical,” Jack commented before following inside.

He was expecting the same experience as when he entered a dungeon, but there was no interval in between he entering the opening to coming out the other side, he was already at a different place the moment he completed his step. He felt like he was in a city. Many crowds walking around strange-looking buildings. There was no ceiling above but there was also no sky, it was just infinite whiteness.

Jack looked around in awe as he absorbed the view. It was like he was indoor but also outdoor at the same time. All the whiteness made him felt as if it was daytime again, while it was already night in the outside world.

”Was this whole place a separate dimension?” He asked Peniel.

”It is a constructed dimension,” it was Janus who answered. ”Please do not loiter, follow me.”

Jack followed the man while continued observing the surroundings. From their garbs, he guessed all the people walking around were magic users. There were even some people flying around in brooms, reminding him of that popular movie about school for wizards and witches.

”Is that broom riding a skill? can I do that as well?” Jack asked. Although in his opinion, riding on top of a broom was totally uncool, it would still be very convenient to be able to fly around, much more convenient than riding a mount.

”Not a skill, but you need to change to a certain class first in order to fly like that,” it was again Janus who answered.

”Which elite class?” Jack asked.

”Grand Wizard if you are a man, Master Witch if you are a woman,” Janus replied.

”Huh?” Jack tried to remember something, he then turned to Peniel. ”Did you miss those two classes when you explained to me about the elite classes? I donʼt remember those two classes he mentioned.”

”Thatʼs because they were not elite classes. They are special classes,” Peniel explained.

”Special class? Wait, are you saying elite class is not the end? There is another class again after?”

”Yes. However, not everyone will have a chance to get a special class. An elite class is the best standard class one can have. As long as one has enough capability, one can apply for elite class at the corresponding academy in any large city. So given time, everyone can be an elite class. But a special class is different, you can only encounter one by luck. In other words, if you are unlucky, you might not become a special class even if you are capable enough.”

”Ah, I see. So, in other words, it is a hidden class,” Jack uttered.

”What hidden class? I said special class! Why go and change the term as you like?” Peniel said.

”Well, we outworlders usually called it hidden class,” Jack explained.

”Well, you are not in your world. So, you call it by our name here. Special class!”

”Hidden, special, itʼs just a name.”

”I said Special!”

”Okay, okay. Special then. Why so riled up?” Jack conceded.

Peniel then added, ”also, you need to be an elite class first before you can have the chance to be a special class.”

”Oh? Then that Master Wizard and Master Witch is a branch of an elite class?”

”Yes, from the Archmage class,” Janus took the chance to answer. ”Are you interested to choose that elite class?”

”I am still considering,” Jack replied.

”You should, it is a good class.”

”Is it?”

”Every class is good,” Peniel said.

”Sure,” Janus replied, but his tone didnʼt signal his agreement. Jack noticed the fairy did not show her willful manner as usual with this guy. Considering this guyʼs bias, Jack surmised Janus was an archmage or a special class that branched from an archmage.

”Is there a level limit to become a special class?” Jack asked. ”Or I will have the chance to get a special class once I become an elite class?”

”You need to be level 50 to become one,” Peniel answered.

ʼWow, level 50. That was still a long way to go,ʼ Jack thought. Then to Peniel, he asked, ”you know everything, so you should know how to get this special class, right?”

Peniel rolled her eyes at him. ”I know all about the class, but I donʼt know how to get it. As I said, it is a fortunate encounter. It is totally random. If you are unlucky, you wonʼt get the chance your entire life. It doesnʼt have anything to do with knowing or not knowing.”

Luck, Consider that high luck stat of his, he should have no problem in this department then. He threw the special class matter out of his mind, it was still too long to consider. After a long walk, Janus finally stopped in a courtyard with a very large obelisk of black color. He was standing motionless in front of this obelisk. Jack was still wondering what he was doing standing still like that when the man turned around and asked him to stand beside him.

Jack went over. He was about to ask what he should do when a voice entered his mind, ”stay still! Unrivalled Arcaner, male, age 23, mage, level 27. You are eligible to become a member of the Order of Magi. Do you wish to become one?”

He was unsure at first to answer using his thought or his mouth. In the end, he did both, ”I do.”

A blue light coalesced in front of him before solidified into a small blue flat object. Another badge, Jack thought as he accepted the object.

Order of Magi Badge: Starter (challenge points: 0, Knowledge points: 0)

”Challenge points?” Why did it sound familiar?

”You can receive challenge points by performing the tasks written on this obelisk,” Janus informed.

Hearing his words, Jack looked at the obelisk. It had a clean black surface the last he saw, but now, glowing words were floating on its surface.

Increase a level = 1 challenge point

Level up skills from Mage class and its branches 5 times = 1 challenge point

Obtain 1 star for skills from Mage class and its branches = 1 challenge point

Defeat 100 Elite monsters/NPCs of the same level or above = 1 challenge point

Defeat 10 Special Elite monsters/NPCs of the same level or above = 1 challenge point

Defeat 1 Rare Elite monsters/NPCs of the same level or above = 1 challenge point

Defeat 1 Mythical monsters/NPCs of the same level or above = 10 challenge points

Defeat 1 Eternal monsters/NPCs of the same level or above = 100 challenge points

Execute skills from Mage class and its branches against hostile monster/NPC 500 times = 1 challenge point

Deliver a total of 10,000 points of damage to hostile monster/NPC in a single combat = 1 challenge point

”This…” He was speechless for a while before continuing, ”ainʼt this the same as the League of Champions? Only change the Warrior into a Mage.” The last task was different, the League required one to receive damage, while this one required one to dish out damage. But it was still like a mirror from the other factionʼs tasks.

”You know the League of Champions?” Janus asked.

”Storm Wind is a member of the League of Champions,” Jack told him.

”Ah, I see. Such a coincidence. You know, the founder of the League of Champions and Order of Magi were actually brothers. However, they took different paths. One became a mighty warrior while the other became a talented mage. When they decided to set up these two factions, they talked with each other and implemented the same system. You can consider the two as sibling factions. The difference was that one faction focused more on the physical classes while the other was magical.”

”Interesting history. Now, I suppose once I got the challenge points, I used it to fight inside a separate arena to gain glory… oh, I mean, knowledge point?”

”A rather hasty fellow, arenʼt you? Yes, that pretty much covers the process.”

😉